USA > Maryland > Allegany County > Cumberland > History of Cumberland, (Maryland) from the time of the Indian town, Caiuctucuc, in 1728, up to the present day : embracing an account of Washington's first campaign, and battle of Fort Necessity, together with a history of Braddock's expedition > Part 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
October 22 .- Great fears were entertained that the cholera, which prevailed elsewhere, might visit the town, in consequence of which a meeting was held at the Union Hotel, when it was resolved to at once prepare a building to be used as a hospital, and to procure contributions for the purpose of supplying
324
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1833.
food, medicine, &c. Fortunately the epidemic did not make its appearance. .
February 6, 1833 .- Justices Orphans' Court: Thomas Cresap, John McNeill and George Hebb.
March 22 .- A new assessment of the real and personal property having been determined upon, Thomas Wilson, John Slicer, Stephen Mulhollan, James Totten, John Neff, Jr., Joseph Everstine, George P. Hinkle, Israel Mayberry, Leonard Shir- cliff, and Amos Robinette, were appointed assessors.
April 14 .- A terrible calamity befell the town, on this date, whereby the greater part of the inhabitants were in a few short hours rendered homeless. It was Sunday, and the bells were calling the people to church, at 10 o'clock in the morning, when the start- ling cry of "fire" was given. A volume of smoke was seen issuing from the cabinet shop of William Shryer, on Mechanic street. An excited multitude of people quickly gathered at the scene of the fire, and endeavored to stay it, but in vain, as the dry wooden building, and its highly inflammable contents furnished rich food for the eager flames. The wind blew quite strong from the west, and the means for suppressing fires being of the most inadequate character, in a short while the houses adjoining became ignited, and the roaring flames went leaping, flashing and surging down the street, enveloping house after house, in quick succession, until every building from the place of the origin of the fire to Russell's carriage shop, near Harrison street, a distance of more than a quarter of a mile, was involved in the general ruin. When it became apparent that
325
THE GREAT FIRE.
1833.]
nothing could be done to check the conflagration, the people at once went to work to save the contents of the stores and houses, but even in this they were able to do but little, owing to the great rapidity with which the flames spread.
The destruction of both the newspapers of the town prevented any detailed account of the disaster from being published here at the time, and when the papers had been re-established it did not occur to the publishers to give a minute history of it. The following letter appeared in the Hagerstown "Herald and Torch Light," several days after the misfortune :
CUMBERLAND, April 15, 1833.
Seventy-five houses comprising the heart of our town now lie in ruins. The fire originated in a cabinet maker's shop, three doors north of the "Civilian" printing office. Many citizens have nothing left. The "Civilian" office is burnt, except its account books. All the stores but one are burnt-Bruce & Beall's. Mr. Shriver's large 3-story tavern. Mr. Fechtig's tavern and the Bank. The fire commenced at 10 o'clock, and the wind being high, the flames soon spread, leaving little time to move goods. Nothing now remains but parts of walls and chimneys, where once the principal part of the town stood. The "Advocate" office also burnt, saving only the cast iron press (badly damaged) and a few type. The ruins commence at Mr. Gustavus Beall's mill, and extend down to Mr. Elnathan Russell's carriage shop; the mill and Russell's house are saved, but on both sides of the street, between these there is not one house standing-distance about } mile. The principal sufferers are :
George Hoblitzell, 3 or 4 houses, James Everstine, 3 houses,
Dr. Lawrence, 1 house,
George Wineow, 1 house, B. S. Pigman 2 houses, Lowndes 1 store,
John T. Sigler, 2 houses,
Late John Scott, 1 house,
Dr. S. P. Smith & R. Worthington, 3 houses,
Bank property, 3 or 4 houses,
Henry Wineow, 1 house and $1,500 cash,
J. M. Buchanan, 1 house, George Hoffman, 2 houses, Shriver, 3 houses, Mrs. Gephart, 1 house, Dr. J. M. Smith, 2 houses, Samuel Hoblitzell, 1 house,
George Hebb, 2 houses.
Thomas Dowden 2 houses, George Deetz, 1 house, S. Bowden, 1 house,
John G. Hoffman, 2 houses,
Butler's store, 2 houses,
Robert McCleary 3 or 4 houses,
326
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND.
[1833.
Adam Fisher, 1 or 2 houses, Robert Swann, 2 houses, Mrs. Saylor, 1 house.
Captain Lynn, 1 house,
Martin Rizer of M., 1 house,
Besides others, mostly brick houses, and two story log buildings.
At a meeting at the Court House, in Cumberland, composed of the citizens of the town, the Court, the Bar and Juries, assembled on the 15th of April, for the purpose of instituting an inquiry into the extent of the calamity occasioned by the late destructive fire, and of devising means for the relief of the sufferers, the following proceedings were had :
Upon motion of Wm. Price, Esq., the Hon. John Buchanan, Chief Justice of Maryland, was appointed Chairman, who in a feeling and appropriate address explained the object of the meeting. Upon motion of John Hoye, Esq., Wm. Price was appointed Secretary. Upon motion of Bene S. Pigman, the chair appointed the following Committee, to enquire into the extent of the calamity occasioned by the late fire, together with the number and description of the sufferers, and report thereon to the meeting, viz: John McHenry, Thomas I McKaig, A. W. McDonald, Wm. Price, B. S. Pigman, David Shriver, George Hebb, Dr. Samuel P. Smith, John Hoye, Dr. John M. Lawrence, Dr. James Smith, David Lynn, Robert Swann, and Richard Beall, who having retired for the purpose, afterwards returned and submitted the following report :
The committee appointed to ascertain the calamity by which the town has been visited, together with the number and description of the sufferers have in the execution of the melancholly duty assigned them, ascertained the following particulars for the information of the meeting:
It is ascertained that the entire business portion of Cumberland has been destroyed. All the taverns, and all the stores in the place, but one, are now in ashes; about thirty flourishing mechanics, all in prosperous business, have been reduced to ruin, and their families left without a shelter to cover them. The three physicians of the town have lost nearly all their property and medicines. It is believed that two thirds of the inhabitants are houseless.
The value of property destroyed and the description of citizens to whom it belonged, the committee have estimated and classed as follows :
7 Merchants, whose loss in real and personal property and goods is estimated at $94,000
3 Physicians.
12,000
3 Hotels, including the losses of the owners. 50,000
30 Mechanics, (real and personal property, stock, &c) .. 71,000
Citizens not included in above description. 31,000
Citizens not residing in the town. 14,000
Total loss. $262,000
Upon motion of Mr. Pigman, a committee was appointed to draft an address to the people of the United States, inviting their aid in behalf of the Cumberland sufferers. Upon motion of Mr. Pigman, it was
Resolved, That the Chairman of the present meeting be the Chairman of said committee. The following gentlemen compose the committee : Hon. John Buchanan, Hon. Thomas Buchanan, Hon. Abraham Shriver
327
THE GREAT FIRE.
1833.]
A. W. McDonald, John McHenry, Wm. Price, James Dixon, Frederick A. Schley, and John King, Esqs.
Upon motion the following gentlemen, residents of Cumberland, who are not sufferers by the fire, were appointed a committee to receive donations, distribute them, and of correspondence, viz : Jobn Hoye, Thomas I. Mckaig, Richard Bell, Rev. L. H. Johns, Wm. McMahon and James P. Carleton.
Upon motion of Thomas I. Mckaig, Esq., it was unanimously
Resolved, That the thanks of the meeting are due to the Hon. John Buchanan, for the dignified and able manner in which he presided over its deliberations.
Upon motion of Mr. Buchanan, it was
Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the Chairman and Secretary and published.
JOHN BUCHANAN, Chairman,
WILLIAM PRICE, Secretary.
N. B .- There being now no press in Cumberland the proceedings are forwarded to Hagerstown for publication.
The fact that the scope of the fire embraced that part of Mechanic street, along which the demented Quaker, Harris, had so often walked while predicting a terrible calamity to befall the town, led many persons to conclude that the old man really had possessed some powers as a prophet, and the super- stitious were thoroughly convinced that he had been sent by some supernatural power as a messenger to warn the people of "wrath to come."
The following is a full list of the persons who sustained losses in the disastrous fire, 14th of April:
George Hoblitzell, lost 6 houses, Jonathan Butler, store goods and store goods and house furniture. furniture, George Wineow 1 house,
Wm. Shryer, stock and furniture, Joseph Everstine,3 houses, furniture, shoes and leather,
Charles Howell, house furniture, John Gephart, 2 houses,
Widow Saylor, 1 house,
A. King and family, clothing and! furniture,
Widow Anders, furniture, &c.,
Dr. J. Smith, 2 houses, medicines, &c.,
Edward Johnson, household furni- ture,
J. G. Hoffman, 2 houses, tinware and furniture,
Dr. S. P. Smith, 2 houses, medicines and furniture,
Geo. Hoffman, 3 houses and furni- ture.
J. M. Buchanan, 1 house,
G. S. Evans, furniture and $800 in money,
John Rutter, house furniture and Widow Frithey, I house and furniture leather,
S. Bowden, 1 house,
328
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1833.
Robert Swann, 2 houses,
David Shriver, 6 houses,
John Murrell's heirs, 2 houses, E. Mobley, furniture, tools wagon stuff,
M. Rizer, of M., 1 house and furni- ture,
Kershner's heirs, 1 house,
Geo. Deetz, 1 house and furniture, Geo. Lowdermilk, house furniture, John Deetz, house furniture,
Widow Gephart, 1 house and furni- ture,
Widow Oglebay, furniture,
R. McCleary, 7 houses, tools, stock and furniture,
Blocher & Harry, 1 printing press, type and office furniture.
John Cress, blacksmith tools and John P. Lowdermilk, clothing, iron,
Post office, furniture and papers,
David Lynn, 1 house,
James Sires, furniture and tools,
Widow Koontz, 2 houses,
Sarah Koontz, furniture,
M. Fisher, 2 houses, furniture and J. Wolf, tools, leather and shoes, stock, J. Marr, tools, &c.,
John Fisher, $500 in money,
Wm. Fisher, $100 in money,
H. Wineow, 1 house, grain, furni- ture and $1,500.
Thos. Dowden, 1 house, shop, fur- niture and tools,
Jas. Black, grain and furniture,
The Bank, 6 houses,
Jacob Fechtig, furniture, &c.,
S. Slicer, furniture, &c.,
Widow Scott, furniture, &c .;
John Scott's heirs. 2 houses,
George Hebb, 2 houses, with furni- W. W. Weaver, furniture, &c., ture and goods,
A. McNeill, tools and jewelry,
John Wright, tools, jewelry and fur- niture,
B. Mattingly, furniture and cloth,
R. Worthington, 1 house, furniture and goods,
Smith, Worthington & Co., 1 house, and J. F. Sigler, 1 house, saddlery and furniture,
Dr. Lawrence, 1 house, medicine , and furniture,
Messrs. Lowndes, 1 house and store, goods, furniture and $700,
S. Hoblitzell, furniture, &c.,
B. S. Pigman, 3 houses,
P. A. S. Pigman, furniture,
S. Pritchard, tools and clothing,
L. W. Stockton, 2 mail coaches,
J. W. Weaver, 1 mail coach,
H. D. Carleton, furniture, &c.,
Eleanor Merryman, clothing,
John Beall, clothing,
Sophia Johnson, clothing,
Elizabeth Bevans, clothing,
H. B. Wolfe, tools, books and furni- ture,
Samuel Charles, The Civilian office entire,
H. Smouse, 1 carryall,
T. Adams, furniture, &c.,
B. W. Howard, furniture, &c.,
W. V. Buskirk,furniture, law library and papers,
Bruce & Beall, part of stock of goods, Krebs & Falls, store goods and fur- niture,
S. & G. Shockey, hats, fur and tools,
John M. Carleton, clothing, &c.,
Nancy Davis, clothing, &c.,
Edmund Hoffman, furniture, &c.,
Wm. Hoblitzell, clothing, &c.,
M. Rizer, Jr., a lot of bacon. &c., J. B. Wright, money and clothing, Louthan & Offutt, stock of goods,&c.
James Reeside, who was for a number of years largely engaged in the stage-coach business on the Cumberland Road, upon hearing of the disaster, caused his son to write the following letter to the Postmaster here:
329
THE GREAT FIRE.
1833.]
PHILADELPHIA, April 18, 1833. J. P. Carleton, Esq., P. M., Cumberland, Md.
DEAR SIR : It is with regret that we have this day heard the sad news of the conflagration at Cumberland, that once flourishing town, and the loss and condition of its inhabitants, among whom we lived so long. My father is confined to his bed, and not able to write, but requests to say to you that one half of all his property, in the town of Cumberland situated on the west side of Will's Creek, shall be sold for the benefit of the sufferers; he also requests me to say to you, as soon as a committee is appointed for their relief, he will immediately transfer the property by deed or otherwise for that purpose. Yours with respect,
JAMES REESIDE, JR.
Immediate steps were taken for the relief of the sufferers, and from all parts of the country contribu- tions were received. Up to June, $15,000, had been distributed amongst them. Those who could afford to do so, set about rebuilding, and the new houses were generally of a much better character than those destroyed.
July 4 .- The celebration of Independence Day was marked by a feast in McCleary's Hollow, when James P. Carleton, Jr., delivered the oration. Workmen were at this time engaged in building the National Road, and those employed at the "Narrows," placed a flag on the top of the tallest tree on Will's Mountain, from which it floated for many days.
In July "The Civilian" office was located in the new building on Mechanic street below the Cumber- land Bank, which had also been rebuilt, (the old brick walls being used,) and its publication recommenced by Samuel Charles, who then called his paper "The Phoenix Civilian."
July 13 .- Messrs. Ducatel, Tyson, and Alexander, of Baltimore, who had been appointed by the Governor to collect information, plats, and reports of surveys, with a view of publishing an accurate map 42
330
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND.
[1833.
of Maryland, and to make geological researches, arrived here. They went to the western part of the county, and on their return explored the coal region about Frostburg.
July 25 .- The work on that portion of the new location of the National Road, from the town of Cumberland to the site chosen for the bridge over Will's Creek at the "Narrows," was suspended, in consequence of its supposed interference with the route of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
The following is the report made by the Assessors of the real and personal property in Allegany county, assessed under the act of 1832:
District No. 1
Real. $120,628 58
Personal. $35.179 30
Total. $155,807 88
66
6.
2
64,891 62
44,047 75
108,939 37
66
66
3.
107,891 38
28,681 50
136,572 88
66
4.
115,540 36
49,291 00
161,831 36
5.
105,344 62
44,579 00
149,923 62
66
*6.
170,652 17
48,066 00
218,718 17
Cumberland Town?
136,952 44
36,830 00
173,782 44
District No. 7.
77,822 75
33,962 00
111,784 75
66
66
8.
65,187 73
18,527 50
83,715 23
66
66
9
98,457 90
37.411 50
135,869 40
$1,063,369 55
$373,575 55
$1,436,945 10
Mechanic street, from the mill race, at the Rail- road viaduct, was paved by the Government, under the direction of Lieutenant Pickett, the engineer in charge of the work on the National Road at this place.
October 4 .- At the election for Congress, Francis Thomas and James Dixon were the candidates, the former receiving 4,012 votes, and the latter 3,421 votes, in the District.
October 8 .- A town meeting was held at the Court
*District No. 6 and Cumberland Town were both included in Cumberland.
-
331
LOCAL INCIDENTS.
1833.]
House, to raise funds for the relief of James Stoddard, whose house, near Grantsville, was destroyed by fire, on the 4th, together with its contents.
October 13 .- Henry Smith, an aged and respected citizen, was found dead near his home, seven miles east of Cumberland.
Delegates to the Legislature: Norman Bruce, William Ridgely, Jeremiah Berry, Jr., and Jacob Lantz.
October 19 .- A new two-story log house, belonging to Martin Rizer, Jr., on South Mechanic street, was burned out, but the logs were not destroyed.
October 20 -A public meeting was held to devise means for aiding the people of Somerset, Pa., who had suffered by a destructive fire in the town, which involved a loss of $100,000. More than thirty families had been rendered homeless. The sum of $200 was collected and donated.
October 26 .- All the prisoners in the jail escaped, by digging a hole through the wall, near a window.
November 19 .- The entire population was in a high state of excitement, consequent upon the falling of a shower of meteorites.
November 22 .- A public meeting to hear the final report as to the action of the Committee of Distribu- tion, for the relief of the sufferers by the fire of 14th of April, was held at the Court House. The Committee reported that it had received in money $20,684.93. From the people of Maryland $9,972.66. From Pennsylvania $7,239.89. District of Columbia $870.76. Virginia $1,075.50. Miscel- laneous $1,526.12. Also a quantity of clothing,
332
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1833-34.
flour, bacon, &c. That all had been distributed to the best advantage. The accounts were examined, and the action of the committee endorsed.
The rebuilding of the town progressed steadily, and before the close of the year there were thirteen stores on Mechanic street, where there had been only six previous to the fire.
During all of the year 1833, a party of engineers and workmen in the employ of the Government, had been engaged in changing the course of that part of the National Road extending from Cumberland to the Six Mile House. The original road, as surveyed and built, lay along Green street, and across Will's Mountain, through Sandy Gap. The new location abandoned that route, and lay along Will's Creek, through the Narrows, and thence along Braddock's Run, exactly as it remains to-day. In the winter of 1833 General Gratiot, the Chief Engineer, submitted his report to the War Department, showing how he had repaired a large part of the Cumberland Road; that the new location had been opened, and that the bridge over Will's Creek was in course of construc- tion. He recommended still further repairs and estimated the total cost to be $645,000.
January 2, 1834 .- The tavern house of Mrs. Bruce, widow of Francis Bruce, five miles above town, on the National Road, was destroyed by fire, with all its contents. The inmates saved themselves by jumping from the second story, not even saving their clothing.
January 7 .- Notice was given that the Cumberland Bank of Allegany would resume business, on the 13th inst., with Joseph Shriver as Cashier.
LOWDERMILK'S HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND .
Lith.by A.Hoen & Co. Baltimore.
THE NARROWS
CUMBERLAND.
Lacking Wort
333
LOCAL INCIDENTS.
1834.]
January 19 .- Four boats loaded with coal went down the river; two of them belonging to John J. Hoffman, sunk ten miles below, each loaded with 1,000 bushels.
Justices of the Orphans' Court: Thomas Cresap, John McNeill and George Hebb.
March 4 .- Mr. Lantz presented a petition to the Legislature praying that body not to pass a bill incorporating the town. The bill was passed, how- ever, amending the act of 1815, and providing that seven Councilmen should be elected each year, and that they should elect one of their number as Mayor. The town was incorporated under the name and title of the "Mayor and Councilmen of the Town of Cumberland." The limits were fixed at "half-a- mile all round the town, to be computed and measured from the town lots on the outer edge or confines of the town proper, as located and settled by law, and by the plat already recorded among the land records."
April 14 .- Many of the houses draped in black, in commemoration of the fire, one year previous.
June 24 .- Notice received that Congress had appropriated $300,000 to repair the Cumberland Road. Work then went on, under care of Lieutenant Pickell, and the stone bridge of two arches, each sixty feet span, was completed.
Contracts for work were given as follows in the repairs of the Cumberland Road :
1st Culvert Section .- Jonathan Witt; 2d Culvert Section, R. A. Clements.
New Location .-- Section No. 2, Gustavus Beall;
334
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND.
[1834.
No. 3, Mattingly & Mulhollan; No. 4, Edmund Bulger; No. 5, Cahoone & Moore; No. 6, Miller, Baker & Co .; No. 7, Lonogan, O'Neill & Kennedy; No. 8, Thomas Feely.
Old Road .- Section No. 9, R. A. Clements; No. 10, Hewes, Stewart & Howard; No. 11, John Neff; No. 12, Josiah Porter; No. 13, Hews, Stewart & Co .; No. 14, Meshack Frost; No. 15, Joseph Dilley; No. 16, Josiah Frost; No. 17, T. Beall & Coombs ; No. 18, M. Meneer; No. 19, Adam Shooltze ; No. 20, Michael McGaverin.
The U. S. Mail Stage from Wheeling for Baltimore, was attacked near the top of Savage Mountain, 17 miles from Cumberland, not far from a gloomy place known as the "Shades of Death," on the night of Wednesday, August 6th, about 10 o'clock, by two highwaymen. They had cut a quantity of brush which they threw on the road so as to obstruct it, and as the stage was ascending the mountain, one of the robbers sprang out from the shrubbery on the side of the road, seized the bridle of a lead horse and stopping the team, ordered the driver to dismount. The highwayman had mistaken his man, however, and had met more than his match in the person of the driver, Samuel Luman, a young man of splendid physique and perfectly fearless. He declined to dismount, and put the whip to his horses with a will. The team being spirited horses bounded forward, dragging the robber with them. A second highway- man appeared at the door of the stage, and to him the first robber called out, "shoot the driver, you d-d coward, why don't you fire at him?" The
335
HIGHWAYMEN.
1834.]
robber at the side of the stage called out, "how many passengers have you?" and the driver replied "a full load." The "gentleman of the road" then looked at the baggage, and seeing an unusual number of trunks on, concluded to keep clear of a shot from the door, so he took a position behind the stage. The first robber was a desperate fellow, however, and he succeeded in turning the lead horses square around and stopping the stage. He then undertook to unhitch the traces, but the brave driver lashed him about the face with his whip so mercilessly that the fellow was compelled to abandon his purpose, but he leveled a pistol at the driver's head, and pulled the trigger. The pistol was a flint lock, and the priming having become damp from the dew and fog, it missed fire, and the horses were soon in full gallop up the hill, broke through the brush fence on the road, and never let up their pace until they went into Frostburg. The highwaymen wore masks, and gowns of tow linen, by which their identity was destroyed. In the stage were five men and one woman, and not one of the passengers was armed. They had a large sum of money with them, besides which a heavy U. S. mail was on the stage, and had the robbers succeeded they would have obtained valuable booty. After having been safely landed at Frostburg the passen- gers gave a vote of thanks to the valiant young driver.
August 13 .- Patrick Mahon was found dead on the side of the Cumberland Road, six miles above the town, his horse standing near by hitched to &
336
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND.
[1834.
tree. He was on his road to Frostburg, and becoming overheated he drank freely of cold water, which was undoubtedly the cause of his death.
August 24 .- A man named B. Risly, a stranger, who arrived in Cumberland some days previously, was missed on Sunday, 17th, and on the following Saturday his body was found in the woods, about one mile from town. Coroner's jury returned verdict, death caused by himself in a fit of derangement from dissipation.
Delegates to Assembly: Alpheus Beall, Normand Bruce, G. W. Devecmon, William McMahon.
County Commissioners: Jonathan Wilson, John Slicer, John Wiley, John Poland, Peter Preston. Thomas Dowden, Martin Rizer, William Newman, Daniel Folck, Daniel Woolford.
November 11. - Travel began on new location of National Road through Will's Creek. The occasion was celebrated in a very enthusiastic way, by the citizens of Cumberland and Frostburg, and others. Early in the morning a large number of the citizens of Cumberland assembled in the public square, and forming into companies marched up the new road to Percy's tavern, where they were met by another company from Frostburg. A grand procession, a mile in length, was then formed, under command of John J. Hoffman, Alpheus Beall, James P. Carleton and Richard Lamar of R., as marshals, and marched, with a band, in advance to Cumberland, the line being formed of stages, carriages, barouches, gigs, wagons and horsemen. With flags flying, and the band playing, the procession passed through the
337
LOCAL INCIDENTS.
1835.]
Narrows, and paraded the main streets of the town to the public square, where Thomas I. McKaig delivered a brief address, and was followed by Lieutenant Pickell, who in a lengthy and eloquent speech con- gratulated the people upon the completion of this work.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.